Best gardening steps

Palms trees are one of the main characteristics of the Florida environment. It might not be general knowledge, but there are many different species of palm tree. What might be more familiar to residents, though, is the fact that palm trees do not endure the cold of winter so well. The cold can damage them, and that is when they need specialized care. Florida Keys tree services can inspect and tend to the trees so that they restore themselves and survive.

The palm tree's life cycle is such that it produces its new leaves in the summer. This is an important fact in understanding how it grows and puts out new leaves. The buds or "spears" are the primordial new leaves that emerge and grow. These are the most important indicator of the extent of the damage and whether trees can be salvaged.

So, once the damage has been done by the cold snap or bad weather, the first thing to do is to check the spears. You simply look at them, since you can tell by eye what the situation is. Also, pull on one or two of them with your fingers. The spear might snap off and come away in your hand. If it is still green, the tree has a hope of recovery.

Once this has been ascertained, it is time to start pruning. Cut off all the dead leaves and branches. But do not prune the partially brown leaves - these are still required by the tree. They yet produce the nutrients that are needed for the growth of their replacement leaves in the summer. They are still active in the tree's structure and should be allowed to remain on it.

A serious risk to the tree after cold damage is infection. It might sound strange but a tree or plant can also be infected by bacteria, or, in the case of trees, infection by fungi is more common. In order to prevent this, a copper compound should be used in solution. Commercial copper fungicides are available. They should be applied to the buds, to stop rotting or infection.

Fertilizer is another way of assisting trees, in order to supply them with additional nutrients in their soil. However, a palm tree should only be given fertilizer in its growth period, i. E. At the start of the summer, and not during the winter. If cold is a continuous problem, there are products that are designed to protect the plant against low temperatures. They are also available in spray form.

Cold damage does not always show its full consequences until a long time later. Trees might live on, but the damaged spears will develop into brown or misshapen leaves during the summer. It might take longer than one growth season to lose entirely the effects of the damage. Ultimately, trees might only return to their normal growth and appearance after a year.

Removing trees from the garden or landscape, or allowing them to perish, is a serious decision, since they are regarded as permanent features. It can also take a considerable amount of time to see if the tree is going to survive its cold damage. Ramrod Key Fl tree services can advise you on the status of the tree and what its prospects are.